Posted: Saturday, November 29, 2008, 11:44 PM | 19 comments |
 

Penn State's mixed bag
options
 

It was a good news-bad news Saturday for Penn State. First, the good news -- right? Well, the Lions and their fans got their wish and Oregon State fell to Oregon, 65-38, in tonight's Civil War. If Penn State winds up in the Rose Bowl -- and it sure looks that way -- it likely won't have to play Oregon State, a team it crushed, 45-14, in Week 2. The likely opponent is now Southern Cal. If the Trojans, 38-3 winners over Notre Dame, beat rival UCLA next Saturday, they head to Pasadena to take on the Lions -- unless, they somehow worm their way into the national championship game.

But that's about as likely to happen as Penn State's squirming into the BCS title game. More on that later. If the Trojans lose to the Bruins (highly unlikely), however, Oregon State would share a three-way tie for the conference title with the Trojans and Ducks, and the Beavers would have the tiebreaker for the Rose Bowl. That would be a cruel and unusual way for the Lions to have to face the Beavers again. (A quick question: How can you give up 65 (!) points to your inter-state rival??) The Lions want the Trojans, however, and it looks like they'll get a chance to knock off one of the big boys.

OK, now the bad news. It shouldn't come as much of a surprise, but Penn State is officially out of the national championship chase. With Florida and Alabama both winning convincingly today, the SEC has guaranteed itself a team in the championship. Those two teams face off next Saturday in the SEC championship with the winner assured a spot in Miami. The other finalist will likely come from the Big 12. With its 61-41 win (Do they play defense in the Big 12??) over Oklahoma State, Oklahoma looks like it will vault past Texas in tomorrow's BCS standings and thus represent the South Division in the Big 12 championship against Missouri. If the Sooners beat the Tigers, they'll face the Alabama-Florida winner. If Missouri wins, Texas or maybe even Southern Cal could slide into Oklahoma's space.

Penn State is ranked behind those two teams and even Utah and Texas Tech, so the Lions are out. If USC does manage to get to Miami, Penn State would still likely face an attractive opponent in the Rose Bowl. Perhaps Texas or the Alabama-Florida loser. Maybe Boise State (ugh). All that being written, it's looking like a Penn State-Southern Cal Rose Bowl. I'm guessing the Trojans open as 14-point favorites. Maybe even higher.

 
Posted by Jeff McLane @ 11:44 PM  Permalink | 19 comments
19
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:41 AM, 11/30/2008
    bring on the condoms, er trojans
    — potus
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:59 AM, 11/30/2008
    Since I am based in LA this year, I have seen almost all of the USC games on TV. I don't agree that USC will be a 14 point favorite over Penn State. They were way behind Oregon State before losing 27-21. They also had two close calls at Arizona and California. Sanchez, like Vince Young, has a weak arm. Neither are NFL QBs. NFL QBs have strong accurate arms like Kerry Collins who is enroute to his 2nd Super Bowl. I remember when Kerry Collins ran the table in 1994 and won the Rose Bowl. Penn State should have been co-national champions that year. Penn State will win the Rose Bowl this year by at least 10 points!
    — pjlay
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:38 AM, 11/30/2008
    Jeff: nice article, but i think USC is bad news for Penn State. The will be another bad loss to a real team by a slow, out skilled big ten team, expect a new years day blowout and massacre is possible. PSU has look very slow, inept offensive plays are so slow developing that USC agreesive's buddy ryan defensive will eat them up. Clark is an average qb at best and has looked mediocre in last 4 games. He is late delivering the ball even on open routes, look for at least 3 interceptions in the first half alone against USC, and no running game. Our backs are too slow, and we are so uncreative on offense to come up with a decent game plan. The first half of season this team could compete with USC but not now. Our defense is too slow for USC and all their fast running backs. If we had all our starters and did not lose our linebackers, maybe a different story. I am a PSU grad, and going to the game, just not looking forward to the outcome. jay Paterno is the worst offenisve coordinator in college football. He barely uses all the weapons he has in the wide receivers. Jay needs to go, and this may be the answer we all need, and make Bradley the coach finally. Joe has done a great job, but it is now time to turn the program over. Trojans, 45 Penn State 17, unfortunately, and it won't be that close, hopefully string bands are good this year, so psu fans have some fun on new years day.
    — brianf89
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:41 AM, 11/30/2008
    pjlay: i love penn state, but come on, we barley beat ohio state, USC blew ohio state's doors off, and didn't break a sweat. This is a home game for them, which i do not like, it should be in the sugar or fiesta bowl to neutralize home field advantage.
    — brianf89
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:18 AM, 11/30/2008
    brianf89 I saw the OSU game too. I also saw the Oregon State, Arizona and Cal games with USC. USC lost to Oregon State 27-21. They were way behind most of the game. USC also almost lost to Arizona and Cal. Believe me, Penn State will win the Roses by at least 10! I have been following Penn State football since the 50s and this year I believe they can beat anybody. I didn't see the Iowa game as I was flying back to LA from Philadelphia. The Iowa game had to be a fluke like the Michigan game in 2005. Sometimes Paterno has a tendency to get too conservative in big games. With this year's team, he should just let 'er rip. He did that against Michigan State and the results showed it! BTW USC plays at the Coliseum in LA and the Rose Bowl is played 40 miles away in Pasadena. Sanchez won't be able to throw any better in Pasadena than he thows anywhere else. He stinks!
    — pjlay
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:30 AM, 11/30/2008
    Remember brianf89 OSU played USC this year in LA. Penn State played OSU in Columbus where they have lost only 3 times in the last seven years. Ohio State and Penn State are major conference rivals. You don't seem to consider any of these factors in your analysis. FYI I have been telling my friends at the LA sports bars that Penn State has 3 QBs that are better than Sanchez! Believe it.
    — pjlay
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  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:54 PM, 11/30/2008
    Zipster1: Why do you think that USC will slaughter Penn State? How many USC games have you seen this year? I have seen all of them because I work in LA where all the USC games are televised. USC could have easily lost three games in the Pac 10 this year. They are that bad. I have seen all of the Penn State games except for the Iowa game. Penn State will win the Roses by 10!
    — pjlay
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  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:19 PM, 11/30/2008
    I know USC is the much more difficult opponent, but why wouldn't you want to challenge yourself against one of the best? Isn't that what bowl games should be? The best teams against the best teams? PSU already played Oregon State, why would we want to play them again, that would be boring. Meanwhile, the Nits rarely have the opportunity to play a team as well-thought of as USC and personally, I'd love to see how PSU matches up with them. Other than playing for the National Championship, playing a team like USC in the Rose Bowl is the best that PSU could have hoped for and I for one am looking forward to it.
    — MrPhillie
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  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:28 PM, 11/30/2008
    USC will roll PSU!
    — eagles2010
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:29 PM, 11/30/2008
    I live here in LA and PSU has only one hat to hang...a running QB. SC's D is better than the Rams or Lions.Gnarly.BUT...they cannot handle a running QB.Pryor gave them fits and the OreSt QB took off a lot when they beat USC.Clark isn't a great runner but he better get his shoes on.It confuses the SC D;they're talented kids but they are just kids.And...they are BUMMED and bored at having to go to the Rose Bowl.Again.
    — red rock
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:39 PM, 11/30/2008
    Zipster1: Obviously you didn't see the USC games with Cal and Arizona. I saw both games. USC beat Arizona by 7 points and Cal by 14 points. I don't call that domination. Both games were closer than the scores indicate. Penn State will win the Roses by at least 10!
    — pjlay


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About Joe Juliano
Joe Juliano has been a staff writer for The Inquirer for 20 years, covering college sports, golf and the Penn Relays.

This season is Joe's fourth season on the paper's Penn State beat. He previously covered the Nittany Lions for United Press International from 1976 to 1984.

Joe McIntyre is a senior at Penn State majoring in journalism. He covered the Penn State football beat in 2011 for the Daily Collegian. Follow him on Twitter here @JoeMcIntyre5.
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